Thomas e



(.No Model.)

T. R. ALMOND.l

FLEXIBLE TUBE.

No. 424,044. Patented Mar. 25, 1890.'

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ATTORNEYS.

N. FnEnanwwuuwmph-r. wminmm D4 c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS R. ALMOND, OF NEI/V YORK, N. Y.

FLEXIBLE TUBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,044, dated March 25, 1890.

Application filed November 27, 1889. Serial No. 331,746. (No model.)

To tu whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS R. ALMOND, a resident of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented an Improved Flexible Tube, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, wherein- Figure l is a side view of a flexible tube containing my invention and provided with an ordinary socket for connection with a burner. Fig. 2 is a detail enlarged longitudinal section of the tube, showing it in process of construction. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the tube when straight, and Fig. 4 is a similar view of the same when curved. Fig. 5 shows a modification of the invention.

This invention relates to a new construction of tubing; and it consists in making the same of wire, as hereinafter described.

In making my tube I first take a coiled-wire spring-that is to say, a coil of wire having the elasticity of the ordinary coiled or spiral spring and the tendency to contract lengthwise when expanded. vThis spring A, I slip upon a mandrel or core B, and I then force between the convolutions of the spring A a wire D, which is crowded between the convolutions of A-until it touches the mandrel B. The mandrel is then withdrawn. The effect of the spring A upon the introduced spiral wire D is to crowd the coils of A tightly against the windings D. By this pressure a continuity of surface and a closing of joints are obtained, which produces a tube having practically tight Walls.

I have found that a tube of this construction maybe used for conducting illuminatinggas, as indicated in Fig. l. It can be used to convey water or other liquids, has flexibility, and can be bent into suitable curves. When the mandrel is withdrawn, the pressure exerted by the convolution's of the spring A may in some Acases serve to crowd. the wire D inward, as in Fig. 3; but the tight grip upon them will not be released. When the tube thus produced is bent, as in Fig. 4, the convolutions of A will approach on the inner curvature a of the bend and will become farther separated on the outer curvature b; but as they come nearer together on the inner circumference they crowd the intervening wire D toward the outer circumference, thus causing the wire D to fill the larger gaps produced at that place between the eonvolutions of the spring` A. This is clearly indicated in Fig. 4. The wire D may be of soft metal or analogous substance, and it may be covered wire or the like. Suitable strands of fabric maybe wound in or around the tube thus formed without changing the spirit ofmy invention.

Fig. 5 shows a modiiication consisting of an additional inner coiled spring A2, the convolutions of which, asv well as those of the outer spring A, are spread by the interposed coil D. Having now described my invention, what I claim is.d

The flexible tube `composed of the coiledwire spring A, intermediate the coils of which is interposed and held under pressure the coiled wire D, substantially as herein shown and described.

THOMAS R. ALMOND. Witnesses:

HARRY M. TURK, JOHN T. SPEER. 

